Cell phone rules for 14 y/o son any suggestions?

Shannon - posted on 06/10/2009
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I recently added my son onto our family plan, this is new to me, my son is the only child in the home, my husband has children that do not live with us. He will be starting high school next school year and will be involved in school activities i'm sure like football for an example. He is a very well behaved child, mannerable, his teachers speak highly of him. I want him to be able to get in contact me when he is away from home or going to the movies, etc. So it's not b/c the next person has one. What type of ground rules do you give your teenagers with cell phones?

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Jeanne - posted on 06/16/2009

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my son has one i have the internet blocked on it, text messages, and purchasing games. i have a list of who he can call and he does good with those guidelines. he is 12 i also get a lot of calls from him i am a approved call he enjoyes calling me

BLOCK TEXTING OR GET AN UNLIMITED TEXTING PLAN!!! My daughter PROMISED me she wouldn't text if I got her a cell phone, so I took her at her word. (She was 13 at the time). The next thing I know I get what appears to be a BOOK from the cell phone company in my mailbox and as it turned out it was my itemized bill. 800 TEXT MESSAGES! $80 on top of my regular cell phone plan. Also look into parental controls on the cell phone if you notice him on it late at night or during school hours. Some companies charge for it, but the plan I have let's me block out all calls and text messages from all phones except ours during whatever times I choose. He may be fine it depends on what his friends do. If they text or download music, games, etc. he is more likely to do so as well. I'd watch his activity by checking on-line every couple of days at first, less often once you ar ecomfortable that he is following your rules. Just randomly check once in awhile because they are pretty slick about texting during class.

My son has a cell and at 14 seems to use it sensibly, but his computer use can get a bit high particularly during the holidays, so I make sure that he has guidelines for use ie. homework first and not too late to bed during the hols. The cell and computers seem to be the way of the future for our children, so they may as well know now how to use them, with moderation.

We're about to give my stepdaughter a cell phone (she's 13), and I'm thinking of having the carrier block the internet feature. We don't let our children go on the home computer unsupervised, so it doesn't make sense to let them walk around with a mini internet-enabled computer in their hand.

All you have to do is tell your son the guidelines from the start. Let him know the purpose for his phone. When adding his phone to your service check with your cell phone carrier about being able to track his usage, also for an extra amount he can be issused a certain amount of minutes. Now the key is if he violates the rules you just simply take the phone. I have raised up two sons and they are now 38 and 34. Believe it or not tough love works. As the parent you are in control not the child.

If you have Verzion you can sign up for parental controls. It allows you to give him a limit on the amount of minutes he use, you can track his location, block certain numbers, set time limits on when he can make and receive calls and text. Please, please, please get the unlimted texting plan

i have a 9 year old with a cell phone..he has had it for 3 years...his dad lives out of state and i wanted him to feel comfortable when he was there...to call me as needed or to call his dad when he was here with me as needed...i have parental controll on any or all downloads unlimited texing oviously lol and share min. with me...my third line is my sig others daughter..who is almost 16 she has had hers for a year...same controlls with her and i can view their calls on line anytime i like...it gives trust both ways...and a piece of mind for me...others had problems with my child having a phone sooo young but i think it is worth it and it gives then a sence of resposibility